I read this book with interest when I was eight (yes more than three decades ago). I felt sad and angsty about all the unfairness in it. I guess as an oldest I related to Peter. Other kids loved the book and thought it was funny or great. I just read it because my "best friend" did and it seemed interested *I was in fourth grade at the time). One of the more sanitised Judy Blume books! There is one part in it though that I still fond disturbing even as an adult (I wont give the spoiler though)

Judy Blume used to be extremely popular as an author.